Priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps

ABSTRACT

A priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps comprises a case of compact dimensions, means for coupling the case to a source of priming water, and a plurality of water outlet conduits penetrating the case floor by a distance predetermined to permit use of water contained in the case to measure the level condition of the unit and to insure substantially equal distribution of priming water through all of the conduits to the various sewer line water traps.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,776,269

Watts 1 Dec. 4, 1973 [54] PRIMING UNIT FOR DISTRIBUTING 3,134,392 5/1964 137/1 18 PRIMING WATER o MULTIPLE SEWER 3,428,083 2/1969 Fish 2,487,470 11/1949 Osborn 285/7 LINE WATER TRAPS James B. Watts, Overgaard, Ariz.

Precision Plumbing Products, Inc., Portland, Oreg.

Filed: Apr. 7, 1972 Appl. No.: 241,955

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl 137/561 A, 137/118, 137/262 Int. Cl. F17d 1/08 Field of Search .L 251/122; 137/118, 137/262, 561; 285/7 References Cited Primary Examiner-l-lenry T. Klinksiek Attorney-Eugene D. Farley [57] ABSTRACT A priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps comprises a case of compact dimensions, means for coupling the case to a source of priming water, and a plurality of water outlet conduits penetrating the case floor by a distance predetermined to permit use of water contained in the case to measure the level condition of the unit and to insure substantially equal distribution of priming water through all of the conduits to the various sewer line water traps.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PRIMING UNIT FOR DISTRIBUTING PRIMING WATER T MULTIPLE SEWER LINE WATER :TRAPS This invention relates to priming units for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps.

When a sewer drain is used infrequently, the water in its trap evaporates, permitting sewer gas to enter the building in which the drain is located. For this reason, most municipal plumbing and sanitary codes require that means be provided for supplying water automatically to each sewer line water trap. This insures that the trap will be operative at all times.

To satisfy the code requirement, it is usual to interconnect the pressured house water line and the sewer trap with a spur waterline, and to include in the spur line an automatic primer valve designed to admit water to the trap as required to keep it continuously full and operative.

This system works satisfactorily in unitary operations where a single primer valve supplies a single trap. However, there are many instances of multiple installations where for reasons of economy it is desirable to have a single primer valve supplying water to a plurality of closely associated traps.

Such multiple installations occur, for example, in superrnarkets, where there may be 50 or 60 refrigerated display cases, each with its own drain to the sewer line. They occur also in apartment houses and business buildings where there are multiple floor drains associated with a plurality of lavatories, laundry rooms, etc. FIG; 1 of the drawings illustrates schematically a prior art installation which is designed toserve the foregoing purpose. It comprises a manifold in the form of a 2 inch cast iron pipe, having in its upper surface a predetermined number of threaded connections. In the illustration, there are nine such connections. Eight are for attachment to the sewer line water traps. A central one is for connection to a spur line 12 leading through a conventional trap primer valve 14 to the pressurized house water line. Thesemanifolds are available as stock items in plumbing supply houses. The plumber selects one having approximately the correct number i of sewerline trap connections, blanking off any excess outlets with conventional threaded plugs.

At the installation site, the manifold is mounted nearly level as possible. It is coupled to spur line 12,

and connected to the sewer line trap connections, indiactly level and supplies all of the, sewer line trap. connections equally with water.

Because of difficulty of installation, or plumbers carelessness, or shifting of positionlduring use, it has proven impossible to install and maintain manifold 10 in the precisely level positionwhich is required for its accurate performance. In addition it is impossible to inspect the interior of the manifold at the time of installation to determine whether all of the trap connections are supplied equally with priming water. Furthermore, it is impossible to inspect the manifold during use to make certain that the lines have :not become plugged with scale or other solid materials.

Accordingly it is the general purpose of the present invention to provide a priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer linewater traps which overcomes the foregoing problems and which is characterized by case of installation, efficiency and uni formity of operation and the capacity for inspection, both at the time of installation, and continuously during use.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sewer line water trap priming unit which may be cleaned from time to time to remove any accumulations of scale and debris which otherwise might block one or more of the trap connections.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a sewer line trap primingunit which is simple in its construction, has nomoving parts to get out of order, and which has an indefinitely long operating life.

The manner in which the foregoing andother objects of this invention are accomplished will be apparent from the accompanying specification and claims, con- 'sidered together with the drawings, wherein:

FIG 1 is a schematic drawing of a prior art, manifoldtype, sewer line water trap priming. unit, above described;

FIG. 2 is a view in elevation of the priming unit of th present invention, illustrated in itsrelation to the house water line and the sewer line traps;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the priming unit taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal view taken alongline 4--4 of FIG. 2.

' In its broad concept, the presentlydescribed priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps comprises a case of compact dimenthereof and insure substantially equal distribution of James B. Watts. It operates on the well-known princi- 16, in practice it does not do so. This is because of the impossibility, or at least impracticality, of mounting the elongated manifold 10 in such a manner that it lies expriming water through all of the water outlet conduits. The case further is provided with a removable transparent cover permitting at any timeinspection andcleaning of the interior of the case.

Considering the foregoing in greater detail and with particular reference to the drawings:

As shown in FIG. 2, the priming unitis supplied with water from the house pressure linedt). This line is tapped with a spur line 32 fabricatedfrom conventional T-fittings, elbows, pipe lengths andsleeves. It includes a priming valve of the class discussed hereinabove with reference to the manifold installation of FIG 1.

As noted above, each time the pressure in house line 30 is reduced the priming valve acts to transfer a small charge of water to one or more of the herein described distribution units as required to service a substantial number of sewer line traps. In the illustration, the discharge side of valve 14 is connected through a T to pipes 34, each corresponding to spur line pipe 12 of FIG. 1. Each pipe feeds a distribution unit, illustrated generally at 40.

As is evident particularly from FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the priming units comprises a case 42 which may be made of brass or other durable metal. The case preferably is provided with a bracket 44, by means of which it may be attached to a structural member 46. The place of attachment is such as to render the unit readily available for inspection. The manner of attachment is such as to mount the unit in as level a condition as possible.

The top of case 42 is open. It is fitted with a clear plastic cover 48 which is removably seated in the open top of the case. The cover has a central opening through which extends the beveled end of feed pipe 34. A resilient O-ring 50 encircling pipe 34 serves as a retainer, removably holding the cover in place.

The floor of the case is provided with a plurality of water outlet conduits 52. These extend upwardly into the case a predetermined distance. Their inner ends preferably are coplanar.

Their outer ends are fitted with packing glands 54 by means of which the conduits are connected to pipes 56.

The latter pipes serve as connections to the sewer line traps, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. The pipes may be as long as necessary, for example, as much as 50 to 100 feet. Each leads to a given floor drain 58 with associated trap 60 and maintains the latter fully charged at all times with water transmitted by priming unit 40.

In their application, the priming units are stocked in various categories determined by the number of water outlets possessed by each. The plumber then selects the appropriate ones, using them singly or coupling them together and using or blanking off certain of the outlets as is indicated by the particular plumbing problem at hand.

Installation of the assembly is facilitated by the fact that each priming unit serves at its own level. The plumber merely fills the case with water and adjusts its position until all of the water outlets are supplied uniformly with water. This factor insures proper operation of the units, since water then will overflow in equal amounts through all the outlets, supplying all of the water traps uniformly.

Also, the condition of each unit may be inspected from time to time during use, merely by looking through the clear plastic cover. Any debris settles to the bottom where it is trapped and does not pass through the outlet conduits. Any substantial accumulation of debris may be removed easily upon lifting the cover from the case.

Having thus described my invention in preferred embodiments, I claim as new and desire to protect by letters patent:

l. A priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps, comprising a. a fixed, hollow case of compact dimensions,

b. infeed conduit means communicating at one end with the interior of the case and arranged at its opposite end for communication with a source of priming water, and

c. a plurality of water. outlet conduits extending through the floor of the case and each arranged at its outer end for communicating with a sewer line water trap,

d. the water outlet conduits extending upwardly into the case to a substantially coplanar level, to permit use of water contained in the case to establish the level condition of said coplanar inner ends, whereby to insure substantially equal distribution of priming water through all of the water outlet conduits.

2. The priming unit of claim 1, wherein the case has an open top, and a transparent cover removably closes said open top for. permitting inspection of the case interior.

3. The priming unit of claim 1 wherein the case has an open top, a transparent cover removably closes said open top for permitting inspection of and access to the case interior, the cover has an opening therethrough, the infeed conduit means comprises a pipe dimensioned for insertion through said opening, and a resilient retaining ring resiliently grips the pipe above the cover and engages the latter for removably retaining the same in closed position. 

1. A priming unit for distributing priming water to multiple sewer line water traps, comprising a. a fixed, hollow case of compact dimensions, b. infeed conduit means communicating at one end with the interior of the case and arranged at its opposite end for communication with a source of priming water, and c. a plurality of water outlet conduits extending through the floor of the case and each arranged at its outer end for communicating with a sewer line water trap, d. the water outlet conduits extending upwardly into the case to a substantially coplanar level, to permit use of water contained in the case to establish the level condition of said coplanar inner ends, whereby to insure substantially equal distribution of priming water through all of the water outlet conduits.
 2. The priming unit of claim 1, wherein the case has an open top, and a transparent cover removably closes said open top for permitting inspection of the case interior.
 3. The priming uniT of claim 1 wherein the case has an open top, a transparent cover removably closes said open top for permitting inspection of and access to the case interior, the cover has an opening therethrough, the infeed conduit means comprises a pipe dimensioned for insertion through said opening, and a resilient retaining ring resiliently grips the pipe above the cover and engages the latter for removably retaining the same in closed position. 